Incident angle dependent smart solar concentrator

Abstract

A transparent solar concentrator is provided for converting solar energy into electrical energy. The solar concentrator includes a first light transmissive substrate, a plurality of solar cells for receiving solar energy and converting the solar energy into electrical energy, the plurality of solar cells positioned relative to the first substrate, and a plurality of light redirecting elements arranged in the first light transmissive substrate. Each of the plurality of light redirecting elements is configured to direct light incident on a first side of the first light transmissive substrate to a respective one of the plurality of solar cells on an opposite side of the first light transmissive substrate.

1 . A transparent solar concentrator, comprising:
 a first light transmissive substrate;   a plurality of solar cells for receiving solar energy and converting the solar energy into electrical energy, the plurality of solar cells positioned relative to the first substrate;   a plurality of light redirecting elements arranged in the first light transmissive substrate, each of the plurality of light redirecting elements configured to direct light incident on a first side of the first light transmissive substrate to a respective one of the plurality of solar cells on an opposite side of the first light transmissive substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first light transmissive substrate has a first refractive index, and the plurality of light redirecting elements have a second refractive index, the second refractive index being less than the first refractive index. 
     
     
         3 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of light redirecting elements comprise a strip or groove arranged in the first light transmissive substrate, the strip or groove filled with a medium having a refractive index corresponding to the second refractive index. 
     
     
         4 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 3 , wherein the medium is air. 
     
     
         5 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of solar cells are formed as a plurality of photovoltaic strips, each strip spaced apart from an adjacent strip by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         6 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 5 , wherein each light redirecting element is aligned with a respective one of the photovoltaic strips. 
     
     
         7 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second light transmissive substrate, and the plurality of light redirecting elements are formed in the first light transmissive substrate, and the plurality of solar cells are positioned relative to the second light transmissive substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light redirecting elements do not penetrate completely through the first light transmissive substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light redirecting elements comprise a first part having a reflecting surface and a second part having a reflecting surface, wherein the reflecting surface of the first part is offset from the reflecting surface of the second part. 
     
     
         10 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light redirecting elements have an upper surface and a lower surface, and the upper and lower surfaces are non-parallel to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two light redirecting elements are assigned to a respective one of the plurality of solar cells 
     
     
         12 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of solar cells comprise a first type of solar cell configured to convert light having a first range of wavelengths into electrical energy, and a second type of solar cell configured to convert light having a second range of wavelengths into electrical energy, the second range different from the first range. 
     
     
         13 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein a reflecting surface of the plurality of light redirecting elements is not perpendicular to an outside light-receiving face of the first light transmissive substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light redirecting elements comprise first and second light redirecting elements, the first light redirecting element extending into the first light transmissive substrate to a first depth, and the second light redirecting element extending into the at least one substrate to a second depth, wherein he first and second depths are different from one another. 
     
     
         15 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second depths correspond to a location of the respective light redirecting element within the first light transmissive substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one surface of the light redirecting element comprises an optically flat surface and another surface of the light redirecting element comprises an optically rough surface. 
     
     
         17 . The solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second outer light transmissive substrates, wherein the first light transmissive substrate is arranged between the first and second outer light transmissive substrates. 
     
     
         18 . A window system, comprising:
 a first outer light transmissive substrate and a second outer light transmissive substrate; and   the solar concentrator according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar concentrator is arranged between the first and second outer light transmissive substrates.   
     
     
         19 . The window system according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of solar cells are patterned to provide an image. 
     
     
         20 . A method for creating a solar concentrator, comprising:
 arranging a plurality of solar cells relative to a light transmissive substrate;   forming a plurality of light redirecting elements in the light transmissive substrate, wherein respective ones of the plurality of light redirecting elements are positioned relative to respective ones of the plurality of solar cells so as to direct light incident on a first side of the light transmissive substrate to a respective one of the plurality of solar cells on an opposite side of the light transmissive substrate.